Carpenter&#39;s gage.



'PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. 13.1 \..VAUGHN.` GARPBNTERS GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1908.

| l n l 1 n `.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN A. VAUGHN, OF CORNING, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RUDOLPH MADSEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CARPENTERS eraan.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 29, 1908.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Serial No. 418,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. VAUGHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corning, in the county of Tehama and State of California, have invented a Carpenters Gage, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in gages, and relates more especially to that class of such devices which are employed by carpenters, joiners, and other mechanics for the purpose of` marking off lines parallel with the edge of a board or other article.

It is a common practice with carpenters and other mechanics in marking off guidelines on boards to use an ordinary two-foot rule by grasping it at a certain point'and permitting the index-'finger of the hand to follow the edge of the board while the pencil is held at the inner end of the rule so as to mark the line as the rule is moved along the board. This practice frequently results in injury to the finger that is in contact with the edge of the board by reason of splinters or the roughness of the board.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a gage device which may be slidably mounted on the rule and securely held in any adjusted position thereon, the said gage device being of such construction as'to form a hand grasping portion and an edge or metal plate which engages the edge of the board and guides the rule in the same manner as the index finger'.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage device of this character as a separate article from the rule and therefore removable therefrom so that the rule mayl be used for its ordinary purposes.

The invention consistsof a rectangular block having a central longitudinal bore of such size in cross-section as to receive two members of a jointed two-foot rule of standard size, in combination with certain means for clamping the block in an adjusted position on the rule all as hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the ap ended claims.

n the drawings illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is a plan view showing the application of my improved gage device. Fig. 2 is a side view of the gage device and ruler. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gage device or attachment. Fig. 4 is a front view.

Like numerals of reference indicate' like parts inall the views of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I employ a metal block 1, which is rectangular in shape and is provided with a central longitudinal bore 2 of such size in cross-section to receive two members of an ordinary two-foot rule, as 3, so that said block may be slidably mounted on said rule, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Attached to or formed integrally at one end of this block is a metal plate 4, of rectangular shape and of such size with respect to the end of the block as to extend above and below the same, the downwardlyprojecting portion of the plate forming that part of the device which engages the edge of the board when the gage is in use, while the upwardly-projecting portion forms a part of the clamping means, hereinafter described. This plate has a transverse opening or slot 5 which registers with the bore in the block and is practically a continuation thereof so as to permit the rule to pass through the plate and block.

The upwardly-projecting portion of the front plate 4 is provided with a pair of rearwardly-projecting ears 6 6, spaced apart and pierced transversely to receive a pintle 7, and pivoted between these ears on the pintle is a cam-lever 8. The upper part of the block is cut away below the cam of the lever, as at 9, V

so that said cam may enter the longitudinal bore of the block and engage the rule. The cam operates at the center of the block so that it may engage both members of the rule, and is so disposed that when the lever is raised the lower surface of said cam will be above the bore so that the block may slide freely 0n the rule and when said lever is lowered the cam surface will impinge upon the rule to hold the block tightly thereon.

It will be here noted that the construction and disposition of the parts are such that when the lever is lowered to cause the cam to engage the rule the upper portion of the plate 4 will slightly yield and thus exert a spring pressure on the clamp that will not only provide a firm engagement with the rule but will also lock the lever in closed position with the handle portion thereof against the upper surface of the block, for which latter purpose the face of the cam is slightly flattened, as at 10.

The operation of the device will be readily understood, for after folding the rule so that ICO it will present two contiguous members, as shown in Fig. l, the device with the camlever raised is slid upon either end of the rule and adjusted thereon a distance from the end 'according to the desired location of the line from the edge of the board, this adjustment being facilitated by the usual gage-marks on the rule. I/Vhen the device is properly adjusted the cam-lever is depressed and will securely lock the device on the rule. The rule with the gage device attached is then used after. the customary manner of using a rule alone, the hand which guides the rule in the present instance grasping the block so as to force the lower portion of the plate against the edge of the board as the gage is moved along said board, during which operation a pencil, nail, or other pointed instrument, is held against the end of the rule so as to make the necessary mark on the board.

The parts of the device are preferably made of steel, the plate which carries the lugs or ears being made of spring steel to give the required resiliency and so that there will be little if any wear on that face of the late which travels along the edge of the hoard. However, the block and the faceplate, including the ears on the latter, may

e cast in one piece or formed by drop forging, and I therefore do not wish to limit my protection to the particular manner of making up the device, nor to the particular construction of the cam-lever or clamping-device.

The gage device provides a very simple and inexpensive attachment for an ordinary rule so that it may be readily converted into a ruling-gage.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is:

l. In combination with a rule, of a gage device comprising a block having a 'bore eX- tending longitudinally therethrough to receive the rule and an opening in its upper side communicating with said bore, of a spring metal plate at one end of the block having a yielding portion projecting above the block, said plate being provided with an opening corresponding with the bore, ears projecting rearwardly from the yielding upper portion of the spring metal plate and Aadapted to normally rest upon the block,

and a cam-lever pivoted between the ears, the cam of the lever being adapted to enter the bore and impinge upon the rule, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a rule, of a gage device comprising a rectangular block having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough to receive the rule and an opening in the upper side communicating with said bore, said opening being at the front end of the block, a spring metal plate at the front end of the block having a yieldin portion projecting above the block, said p ate having openings registering with the bore and with the opening in the block, ears formed on and projecting rearwardly from the upwardly-projectmg portion of the plate at opposite sides of the opening in the block, and a cam-lever pivoted between the ears and arranged so that the cam thereof will iminge against the rule when the handle of the ever is brought against the upper surface of the block7 substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. VAUGHN.

Witnesses:

NORMAN D. PHELPS, Rioni). B. FRIPP. 

